Bistro MD: Does This Very Popular Diet Really Work?

Jenny Craig – Food, Body and Mind

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How Did Take Shape For Life Start?

He said that the program was easy to follow, although there was a learning curve regarding what works best and what foods were the most enjoyable. They also found the prices to be high and that they grew bored with the food after just 30 days. One reviewer said that they lost 40 pounds in three weeks and, although they initially felt hungry, that feeling went away after a few days.

They found the Health Coach through Take Shape for Life to be extremely beneficial in keeping them on the program. Overall, the comments on the Consumer Affairs review site reported positively about the program and said they would recommend it to friends. The Health Coach that is provided through Take Shape for Life helps guide you toward your weight loss goals and many who reviewed the program said this made the biggest difference in achieving their goals.

The Coach applauds your victories and helps you work through your challenges. The website says that Take Shape for Life is about more than weight loss as the goal is to help you adopt healthy habits that eventually become second nature to you. Take Shape for Life includes weekly support calls from doctors, nurses, and dieticians as well as access to an online community. You are also provided membership in the BeSlim Club that allows you to receive free Medifast Meals with delivery to your door.

It is important to note that the Health Coaches provided by Take Shape for Life are often people who achieved success on the program and now generates revenue for Medifast through relationship marketing. You are asked to recruit people to the program and, as they become healthy, encourage them to become coaches themselves and get clients on their own.

This has led some experts to claim the program is a pyramid scheme, although those who have worked for the company say that they are never pressured to bring in new members.

Many do so because they want to help others become healthy as they did use Take Shape for Life. Take Shape for Life, or Optavia as it is now known, helps you realize a Lifelong Transformation with an approach that is different from other weight loss programs. The program starts by helping you achieve a healthy weight which improves your health, confidence, and vitality. The program is based on 37 years of experience with more than 1 million successful clients. The program was created by William Vitale, MD, who found that his specially formulated meal plan helped his patients lose weight.

It is safe and effective whether you need to lose 15 or more than pounds. There is a Scientific Advisory Board that constantly reviews the effectiveness, safety, and nutritional benefits to be sure they meet the needs of clients. It is difficult to determine what the average weight loss is for those who follow the program as this information is not included in the details on the website.

Many of those who found success on other review sites report losing as much as 40 pounds in just 30 days. However, after 30 days, many reported changing to a different diet plan because the meal choices were limited, and some felt they were not appetizing.

Each serving counts as one meal out of your daily meal count. These are designed for when you want a home-cooked meal like turkey meatball marinara or chicken cacciatore. The kit also includes probiotic and digestive enzyme supplements. Like any weight loss plan, it is important to talk to a doctor before staring Take Shape for Life products. Exercise is part of the program as it improves blood sugar control and flexibility.

It also improves metabolism, helps improve weight loss along with other health benefits. You will want your doctor to confirm that you are fit enough for exercise. The program is very similar to others that replace regular meals with pre-packaged meals.

As long as you have limited food allergies and are fit enough for exercise, the program is safe. There are reported side effects when using Take Shape for Life. Some people report leg cramps which may be alleviated by boullion or soups on the program. Remaining well hydrated can also help avoid leg cramps. However, it is not recommended that additional potassium to the program unless advised by a doctor.

There have been reports of dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue. These are not uncommon on any weight loss program, but adding soup or boullion and remaining well-hydrated can help reduce those side effects.

When entering the fat burning state, you may experience a headache. Pain relievers can be used to reduce a headache as will drinking at least 64 ounces of water.

Because the weight loss may be rapid on the program, other side effects can occur. Some of the greatest products are offered through direct sales, and the trend continues with Take Shape for Life. A subsidiary of Medifast, the company has changed its name to Optavia. The well-established business with over 30 years in service offers the new brand with new products that are offered through health coaches within an MLM system. In multi-level marketing or network marketing , independent salespeople work directly with customers to sell high-quality products and try to build their own sales team.

As coaches to their clients, you provide products and information to clients with the help of a network of other coaches, access to a mix necessary business tools, and strong corporate support. To move up the ranks of coaching and increase earning potential, independent salespeople also encourage and motivate others to try their hand at becoming coaches as well.

MLM Marketing often offers tiers of compensation. With Optavia, a potential salesperson learns about the compensation plan, which is based on product sales and team building. After purchasing an Optavia Business Kit, you can begin working as a coach. You then strive to create customers by selling the products and receiving a commission.

After making qualifying sales, you can be promoted to Senior Coach. Once you start team building, and your team begins to grow, you can become Manager, Associate Director, and then Director. The promotions can continues into executive and leadership ranks. You can find alternatives to Take Shape for Life everywhere. Some alternatives to Take Shape for Life include:. Nutrisystem offers meal replacement services as well as personalized coaching.

Diet and Go offers chef-prepared meals that you can cook yourself if you are not a fan of prepackaged foods. Health coaches are also provided in the form of registered dietitians and nutritionists. The site claims that the coaches are certified, not chosen by former clients. Plus, we have concerns about reports of poor customer service and the high price. It contains clinically-tested ingredients, with results often seen in published journals. The formula consists of four clinically-tested ingredients backed by human research that shows they can help with increasing metabolism, boosting fat loss and crushing your appetite.

Dieters report fantastic success. Choosing the right weight-loss system can be confusing and often times frustrating. Let us know a little more about you and your goals.

Some customers are reporting Take Shape For Life side effects may be stomach discomfort, nausea, irregular bowel movement and dehydration. Take Shape for Life food list ingredients include bars, shakes, smoothies, crunchers, drinks, soups and snacks. Choosing the right product is the 1 question asked by DietSpotlight readers. We recommend trying any product before buying it and know that finding a product with a sample offer is near impossible - so we created our own product, Burn TS, with scientifically backed ingredients.

Some include caffeine, green tea and protein. A bottle of Take Shape For Life varies based on the products purchased. Each kits lasts 30 days. You should take Take Shape For Life for six days per week. Typically, Take Shape For Life is not covered by insurance, but the company recommends checking with your insurance company prior to ordering. Take Shape For Life come with a guarantee. You can return blenders and consumable products within 30 days of purchase, minus the cost of shipping and handling.

If you purchased a Fitbit on the official website, you have 45 days to return the product for a full refund. You can also exchange products within the day time frame. If you are looking for an easier way to lose weight, you should think about trying Dietspotlight Burn , especially since it is backed by positive customer reviews. Summer Banks, Director of Content at Dietspotlight, has researched over weight-loss programs, pills, shakes and diet plans.

Previously, she managed 15 supplement brands, worked with professionals in the weight loss industry and completed coursework in nutrition at Stanford University. Do Not Send Email Notifications. TSFL was designed to give personal coaching to anyone using our fast,safe,Dr approved meals. You deserve a good coach,we are paid by TSFL to assist you in all areas. A good coach not only knows how help you with your weightloss and maintainence we can help you save ,even earn money. Coaches do not get a discount,we pay the same for our meals as anyone else.

A good coach can be essential to your on going success. If you do not have a good coach,I encourage you to ask customer service for the coach above your coach etc. I like several others who have responded above, would love to personally assist anyone who is not getting the help you need. I chose to become a certified health coach when I experianced how well our program worked. Many blessings on your road to health may it be an exciting journey for you: Yes just like Kat said here, get all the facts before you write something.

I am glad I read all these replyies and not just base a dission on what the Arthur wrote above. I think it sounds like a good program I know 2 pepole who have been on it one of them lost 47 pounds and the other pounds and yes one of them is a life coach. Other diets have left me so hungry I could eat a horse. I have tried Weight Watchers , Nutrisystem , and working with a nutritionist.

I was hungry all the time and although I lost weight, I gained it back. I started Take Shape for Life one week ago. I have had minimal hunger a couple of times the first couple of days, but none the last 5. I have lost 6 pounds so far. The workbook and text book that come with the program are incredible. The variety of food is limited but OK. My mother was a Type 2 diabetic and after 30 years of taking high doses of insulin now only needs a very small dose oral medication 40 pounds lost.

My daughter no longer has high cholesterol 50 pounds lost. I am off of at least 5 medications for high blood pressure and acid refux disease pounds lost. Please check out my earlier comments and contact me through my website TakeShapeWithTita. I was taking units of novalog and 35 of levamir.

This program is what you make of it. Stick to it and it definately works. No, Jayne, maintenance is not hard. We all know that losing the weight is only half the battle. You need to change the way you think about food in order to keep it off, and you do that while in the weight loss phase of the program.

It only takes two weeks to form a new habit or break an old one, so the way we eat while losing weight becomes part of our eating habits. Contact me if I can help. I have lost pounds myself and have been a Health Coach for 2 years. I lost 70 lbs off two years ago and then yo-yoed in fear.

I gained 20 back until the summer and since the fall have gained another I am back since today. My health coach is not greta at all. I to have a terrible coach! I have been on the program for exactly 14 weeks and have lost 60 pounds! Six months ago, my cholesterol level was That was after taking cholesterol medicine for 18 years!

Last week I went to the doctor again, and my new cholesterol level is only !!! At that time, I had been on this program for only 13 weeks. My doctor was amazed. I have decided to learn all I can about Take Shape For Life, become a health coach, and help others regain their health. Is this a bad thing! In my many years at IBM no one ever helped me like this. Mike Great to see your success, I would like to chat via email.

Would like very much to get your imput. Andrew from Cape May NJ. My coach is great. I figured that she was making money every time I purchased food, but who cares?

I finally found something that works for me. And I agree with Carmel. I will eat cal over the period of 1 day though. I started 2 weeks ago and I have lost 12 lbs. I am steadily become healthier, happier and yes by helping others do the same, more financially stable. Dave, I am not sure where you received your information.

This means that the 6 meals should have a three-hour spacing. You can choose to have all the meals with the uniform number of calories or, make some meals like breakfast heavier than day time snacks. You can start with as little as 20 minutes and work your way up gradually. The trick is to be consistent and disciplined.

At this point it is advisable to have a food journal where you can be recording what you had for every meal and whether you stuck to the calories. You can also record the length of time you exercised and what specific workouts you did. This is important to keep yourself on track and to also monitor your progress.

You should also toss anything that might trigger you to snack or eat more than you should. Make sure to keep in constant communication with your health partner and dietitian being absolutely open with them. It is better to admit that you failed or slipped than to act like everything is fine while in real facts you are failing. Using these steps, apparently, will give you your very own Jenny Craig at home.

Does this diet program work? At the high cost of the diet plan, will we actually lose weight? According to WebMD many people can attest to the fact that the plan worked for them. The plan also works great for vegetarians and those that do not consume gluten since there are a variety of options. However, the diet is not good for vegans because almost all the prepackaged foods have some levels of dairy in them. According to a review of previous studies, it was seen that obese adults that were put on the Jenny Craig diet plan showed a 4.

Everyone burns calories differently, and for some, counting calories can be a bad thing. Customers are given prepackaged foods with the calories already counted and certified as okay.

There is no scientific research linking this diet to weight loss and management. National Institutes of Health conducted a study on mice that were given a low-calorie diet. Middle-aged mice 16 months old were fed the diet for 4 consecutive days, followed by 10 days of unlimited access to food.

The mice overate during these phases so that their overall calorie intake was similar to mice continuously fed a regular diet.

There is a wealth of information, blogs and articles pointing out the downfalls of meal planning. The mega-downside is that this diet is super expensive. Jenny Craig prices are as follows:. These prices do not include the cost of buying the foods. The Jenny Craig online website allows for people to order, choose and buy foods without having to physically go to the local Jenny Craig centers. The online system requires your information, so they can recommend the best foods for you.

When ordering online, the first order is usually chosen by the company as a way of giving you an idea of what would best work for you and from then on you choose the plans yourself. Orders are made in batches of two weeks, but there is a three-day sample trial.

This sample meal includes nine meals, three snacks and three salad dressings. After giving all your information, the Jenny Craig Food Delivery team ships the food out to you.

You can choose from picking up your food from the local center or have them directly delivered to you — which will cost you extra.

Not all experts agree with low-calorie diets, pointing out the possible side effects — which are a bit shocking. According to WebMD , possible side effects of a low-calorie diet include: Nutrisystem and Weight Watchers are a couple of popular diet plans. These systems have often been compared by many reviewers in the hope of finding which one is the best route to take.

All three systems include prepackaged meals in their diet plan. This can be attributed to the fact that with prepackaged foods, calorie control is a guarantee. In terms of prices, Weight Watchers is the cheapest, followed by Nutrisystem. Jenny Craig was dead last in this category — the most expensive of the three.

When it comes to the support system, a study by the Colorado State University has shown that Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig offer constant weekly group or individual counselling and meetings that are physical and interactive as opposed to Nutrisystem whose support system is only online and among dieters.

The other difference among these three systems is that Nutrisystem does not offer any background check or change for its clients. A background check in terms of their previous eating regimen, their exercise habits, etc. Both Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig help in knowing the past of its clients to determine their problems and assist in changing their ways of thinking and doing things when it comes to their nutrition and health.

What we gather from these comparisons, is that the only thing separating Jenny Craig from the competition is the outrageous price tag. I just started my third round this past Tuesday. Counting calories, eating healthy and exercising are sure to help you lose some weight, but at what cost? Is this diet plan going to catapult you to weight-loss glory?

It might work for some, but there are just too many negatives for us to back this diet. If your goal is to lose weight, increase energy and eliminate hunger, you should go with a simple supplement designed to deliver results and not drain your bank account.

One of the best products of the year is called Burn TS. This supplement is a proprietary blend of 4 natural ingredients shown in published research to increase energy, burn fat and curb appetite. Customer reviews are showing great success, with some users pointing out the amazing value of the product. Choosing the right weight-loss system can be confusing and often times frustrating. Let us know a little more about you and your goals. Jenny Craig makes a variety of healthy meals that you can purchase while you are on the program.

The ingredients in their meals includes vegetables, whole grains, fruits and lean meats such as chicken, beef, pork and chicken. Their meals are low in calories, carbohydrates, sugar, and saturated fats. There are no known side effects of the Jenny Craig program although some of their clients have reported food allergies.

Choosing the right product is the 1 question asked by DietSpotlight readers. We recommend trying any product before buying it and know that finding a product with a sample offer is near impossible - so we created our own product, Burn TS, with scientifically backed ingredients.

Jenny Craig claims that the members that follow their program lose an average of pounds per week. Jenny Craig can be purchased using their Official Site or through Amazon. You can contact Jenny Craig by going to their website at http: You can also call for immediate assistance.

Jenny Craig guarantees that their clients will lose an average of pounds while in on their weight loss program. The most common complaint of clients who have reviewed Jenny Craig is regaining weight when the client ends their participation in the program. Summer Banks, Director of Content at Dietspotlight, has researched over weight-loss programs, pills, shakes and diet plans.

Previously, she managed 15 supplement brands, worked with professionals in the weight loss industry and completed coursework in nutrition at Stanford University. Do Not Send Email Notifications. If you order online, the cost is ridiculous even though I can afford it. You must have a huge freezer capacity if you have others in your household.

I am very disappointed. Although their food is good, they are often out of the items you prefer. I woild like to know what the cost is per week for Jenny Craig and the cost of the food. There are planned and personalized week, so it varied. The foods are delicious: Then at halfway we start doing 2 days on our own. I would like to know the cost of the program and the price of the food for a week on this program.

I am a member of Jenny Craig. I joined about a month ago. I will probably stop buying the food completely within the next weeks. What are some bad warnings about the diet?

These consultants are just sales people who want your money. I was a consultant not a salesperson, I did care and that is why I quit. Much better options for sustained weight loss. Just joined Jenny Craig this week the snack are nice but things I have always avoided eg twisties, lunches feel very unhealthy like a pie and a sausage roll — things I would never buy for lunch. Thank goodness I have only signed for a 2 week trial.

I tried Jenny Craig in the past and had wonderful success. The thing I like about this is it is never designed to keep you on their food, as you los3 weight your coach you get a coach who helps you and motivates you; once per week helps you learn to make better food choices.

Some of the programs can be expensive, but there are options for those on extreme budgets, such as myself. I also like that they promote not only food, but exercise; lets face it if you want to lose weight and keep it off in a healthy manner you need to exercise. Another benefit they have overall all the other programs…they are the only one who is recommended by the American Heart Association.

Keep in mind; if budget is an issue, the foods you chose plays a role in the price. Also, they can work with you for example: If you are willing to do the work, but just need help getting started this is the program for you.

I am at my 9th week at jenny craig and i have lost 12 pounds. It gets boring after awhile of eating the same frozen foods. I started the program four weeks ago and was talked into taking the extended plan instead of the 20 for Should have tkaed the 20 for

Take a deep look at Jenny Craig cost, program details & real results. Our review leaves nothing behind - real customer reviews and science. Jenny Craig is a weight loss and wellness company designed to provide personalized support to help members lose weight and learn how to keep it off. Before you sign up for Nutrisystem PLEASE read the many user reviews of it so you know what you're getting into. The s of Nutrisystem Reviews on our site explain exactly what you need to know before joining.